Posted on 08/07/2018 7:05:39 AM PDT by ETL
Makenzie Noland celebrated her upcoming college graduation by posing in her cap and stole with her good friend "Big Tex" — a nearly 14-foot-long alligator that lives in a wildlife sanctuary in Beaumont, Texas.
The soon-to-be Texas A&M University grad has been living at Gator Country for the past three months as she interns with the organization. During her time at the wildlife rescue, Noland has bonded with many of the 370 alligators on site, specifically Tex.
Over the past several months, Noland has been training with Tex — under the careful supervision of alligator experts.
"Tex is the one who let me into his pond. He does pick favorites, and I'm honored he likes me enough to let me get in there and play with him every day," Noland, 21, told Fox News.
Noland likens the gentle giant to a "puppy," as he often follows commands in order to get treats.
"Whenever you're training a puppy, you commend them for sitting down and give them a treat," Noland explained. "When I'm telling Tex to 'come here' using a hand motion I will reward him, tickle his nose and toss food in his mouth."
Noland's close bond with Tex influenced her decision to feature him in her graduation pictures. After all, the wildlife ecology major wanted to showcase her passion for animals — gators in particular.
"Every single time I get in the water with him I realize how huge of a creaturen he is. He's a real life dinosaur," Noland said, adding that she was honored to get the opportunity to work with him.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
The mental capabilities of a gator make the average mutt look like a Rhodes scholar. Sorry sweetie, this is NOT going to end well for you.
She thinks she bonded with the gators because they decided not to attack her. If her degree was worth more then toilet paper she would know not to trust a reptile or attach human feelings to it.
Aussies like 'em well done on the 'barbie' with a side of mashed potatoes and gravy.
Unless that gator is actually stuffed, the girl is an absolute fool. As PNC noted, she should read up on the bear “expert”, Timothy Treadwell.
This girl’s picture will circulate without any cautionary remarks attached. Then some kid will say to himself “I guess alligators really are pretty harmless”. And he’ll try the same thing.
That girl is a future Aggie joke...
Future Darwin Award winner...
Gators make nice boots and belts, not to mention a decent stew, but making “friends” with one is almost as risky as making friends with a democrat. I hope she wises up soon.
“OK Sweetheart, you survived that one and you have it captured in pics.”
She has ‘bonded with 370 gators and regularly goes into the pond with this one at the park where she works.
Soon to be gator poop. (See, e.g., Timothy Treadwell.)
I'm well aware that most paleontologists now consider birds dinosaurs, based on some key similarities. However, not exactly an 'expert' myself, I don't feel comfortable calling birds 'dinosaurs'.
“Noland likens the gentle giant to a “puppy,” as he often follows commands in order to get treats.”
Noland is a fool who doesn’t know a wild predator from a puppy? One time her “gentle giant” may strike and pull her into her death in the water?
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